Running back Arian Foster and wide receiver Stevie Johnson just got a combined 79.2 million from the Texans and Bills, respectively.
What kind of money, then, might be in store for DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy?
Let's break down the contracts. We'll start first with Foster. He was an undrafted free agent in 2009 who made just 525,000 in 2011 after leading the NFL in rushing the season prior. Last year, he rushed for 1,224 yards, caught 53 passes for 617 additional yards and scored 12 total touchdowns. His new deal is now worth up 43.5 million over the next five years with 20.75 million guaranteed.
By comparison, McCoy was similarly underpaid when he accumulated 1,624 total yards last season and scored 20 touchdowns. Potentially putting even more money in McCoy's pocket by the time he gets paid, our own Reuben Frank wrote last week, "McCoy is the only player in NFL history with 3,000 rushing yards, 150 catches and a 4.8 rushing average in his first three seasons" (see story). Another point of comparison, the Carolina Panthers gave RB DeAngelo Williams 43 million over five years last season -- a deal almost identical to Foster's. The question now is if McCoy is worth even more.
Moving onto the wide receiver position, the Bills handed Stevie Johnson a five-year, 36.25 million deal Monday.
First, the ways he and Jackson are similar. They're both highly flamboyant. Now, the ways they're dissimilar. Johnson catches far more passes per season than Jackson (158 over the last two years to DeSean's 124), but DeSean is considered an even more dynamic offensive weapon considering his ability to return punts and to score from any field position.
The Eagles just franchised Jackson as one of the top players at his position, a deal that will pay 9.4 million this season if a long-term deal is not completed -- and the Eagles maintain they would like do do so (see story). One would also assume Jackson's number could be bumped even higher than that of Johnson's.
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Complicating matters for the Eagles front office is that Drew Rosenhaus represents both.
So do the Eagles have something like 80 million to spend on Jackson and McCoy? They better hope so. Really, they better hope they have more. Because with Rosenhaus conducting the negotiations, 80 million might just be the starting price.